Money clip



Dec. 2, 1952 W. MEEKER 2,619,699

MNEY CLIP Filed Feb. 16, 1951 Gttomegs Patented Dec. 2, 1.952

MONEY CLIP William H. Meeker, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Co. Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 16, 1951, Serial No. 211,305

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in money clips.

The present invention comprehends an improved money clip constructed of a minimum number of parts; namely two discs or plates, and between which discs or plates a one piece spring clasping and holding means, which is attached to each plate, is provided and these discs or plates are secured to the opposite sides or faces of the said spring means and, when thus secured, the money clip is operated by simply clasping opposite portions of the discs or plates adjacent where a bight means of the spring means is positioned and by applying pressure, spring tongues that are carried by the spring means and which effect a clasping of the paper money or bills are somewhat released or relaxed so as to allow for ready insertion and/or removal of the paper money or bills from the clip. The said spring f tongues which are a component part of the spring means, to which the discs or plates are secured on opposite sides thereof, are normally partially in pressure engaging contact with each other but this contact of the spring tongues is released when the money clip is operated as aforesaid to permit ready insertion and/or removal of the clasped paper money or bill or bills as the case maybe. The said spring means is actually one spring element or stamping which is normally in a flat condition and is bent substantially intermediate its ends to provide the aforesaid bight portion which is positioned with respect to the discs or plates adjacent a portion of the peripha clasping and holding of the folded paper money, bills or the like, and which pressure by a simple manipulation of applying pressure to a portion of the clip preferably with the thumb and foreinger is relaxed or released and thus allowing for a ready insertion and/or removal of the bills, paper money or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a money clip comprising two discs or plates which are in effect opposite faces of the clip and between Which discs or plates and preferably following the outline of either the discs or plates, there is a one piece unique spring tensioned means that includes opposed integral spring tongues which actually perform the clasping and holding and/or releasing of the folded paper money, bills or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple and rather inexpensive combination of the aforesaid discs and spring means and wherein the spring means preferably comprises an initially flat stamping which is bent upon itself substantially intermediate the ends thereof so that the two bent portions thereof which are substantially identical in construction and each including an integral spring tongue, and the eral edges thereof. The portions of the plate or plates opposite this bight portion of the spring means serve as the means for allowing the clip to be .grasped between the thumb and forenger and` by applying pressure thereto, the aforesaid clasping tongues of the spring means are released.

In additionto the spring tongues which are a component part of the spring means, there are provided oppositely extending tabs which form stop means with opposite interior portions of the discs or plates and which stop means, when contacting the said opposed interior portions of the discs or plates, serve to allow the pressure exerted by the thumb and forenger to result in a relaxationor partial separation of the otherwise constantly engaging spring clasping tongues of the spring means.

In view of the foregoing, therefore, it is an object of the invention is to provide a money clip comprised of a relatively few number of component cooperative elements and which will normally be constantly under spring tension to effect tongues being in opposed relationship, perform the clasping and holding and releasing of the paper money, bills or the like.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide two substantially similarly formed and dimensioned discs and a one piece tensioned spring clasping means which generally follows the outline of the discs and is substantially of the same dimensions and this spring means having xedly secured thereto on opposite sides thereof the said discs thus completing the money clip and allowing for a manual manipulation thereof by grasping between the fingers and applying pressure to opposed portions of the disc which releases the pressure of the spring clasping means between the discs and allows for a ready insertion and/ or removal of the paper money or bills as the case may be from the clip.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and varrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of v the invention. 1

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the money clip applied to a folded paper money or bill or bills;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of all of the component elements comprising the money clip;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the money clip with parts broken away to disclose one of the spring clasping tongues of the spring means and one of the outwardly extending tabs;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 5-5 0f Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the money clip.

Like reference numerals and characters in the several figures of the drawings all denote the same parts or component elements comprising the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the drawings in detail wherein the money clip as depicted comprises substantially similarly formed, shaped 'and dimensioned discs or plates 1 vand 8, which plates may constitute the front and back respectively of the money clip and, further, the plates may be disclike or circular in outline as shown or, obviously, may assume other shapes, outlines such as oblong, rectangular, etc. The front plate or disc 1 `on its .outer surface 9 may be embellished with any desired ornamentation and preferably is ornamented.

'Each plate 1 and 8 is provided with a series or plurality of Aopenings I0 and II therein respectively and these openings are preferably in the same position and location in each plate and also preferably adjacent the periphery thereof or the exterior border or outline depending upon the outline of the plates or discs.

-In addition to the aforesaid discs that are provided with the openings, the other component and cooperativeelement of the money clip is the spring means generally indicated at This spring means is preferably formed from a single stamping and originally is in a substantially lflat condition and is reversely bent as at I3 so that the two upper and lower portions I4 and I5 thereof overlie each other and are connected, of course, at the bight portion I3. Each portion I-4 and I5 of the spring means I2 is similarly formed and as seen in Figsp2 and 3, the central portion I6 is partially cut out and thus there are provided similar ring-like portions `I1 and I8 and, within the cut-out portion I6, the integral Yspring vclasping tongues I9 connected with the ring-like portions as at 20 extend toward the'bight portion I3. l1 "he ring portions I1 and I8 o'f the spring means I2 are each provided with a series or plurality of openings ZI and 22 respectively, and these openings are adapted to be registered with the openings II] and II in the discs or plates 1 and 8 and when the openings IU in the disc or plate 1 are in registry with the openings 2I in the ring portion I1, and the openings II are in registry with the openings 22 in the ring portion I8, individual rivets R serve to secure the discs or plates 1 and y8 to the opposite sides or ring portions I1 and I8 respectively of the spring means I 2. The rivets, of course, are headed-as indicated at R and when inserted in their respective openings, the shank end of these rivets, of course, is slightly swaged to thus secure the discs to the spring means. Of course, other securing means such as spot welding or any other suitable securing means may be utilized for the connecting or aiixing of the discs or plates to opposite sides of the spring means I2 but the rivets have proved entirely satisfactory.

It is to be noted that the spring means I2, and particularly at the cut-out portion I6 thereof and opposite to the slightly flared .free ends 23 of the spring tongue I9, is providedwith similarly outwardly extending stop or abutment tabs 24 which are inwardly of the bight portion I3 of the spring means I2. Further, opposite portions 25 of the spring means immediately adjacent the bight portion I3 are so formed that oppositely disposed and similarly formed shoulders 26 are provided and thus these opposite portions 25 of the spring means are in a different or lower plane than the remaining ring-like portions of the spring means I2. By providing these reduced portions 25 of the spring means adjacent the bight portion and by referring to Figs. .4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that there is a space or clearance 21 on opposite sides of the spring means and between the interior opposed portions of the discs'or plates, and it is in'this space that the stop or abutment tabs 24 are positioned. When the money clip is in its clasping condition as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tabs 24 are out of engagement with the opposite interior portions of the discs or plates but, when Vthe money clip is in its inoperative or non-clasping condition as shown in Fig. 6, it will be noted that these tabs 24 are in engagement with the opposed interior portions of the discs or plates and thus .the mouth t. or entrance M of the paper money or bill clip Further, as noted from Figs. 4 and 5, ywhenthe.

money clip is in its clasping condition, 'a substantial engagement ofthe opposed faces of the spring tongues vI! is effected whereasfwhen the money clip is in its non-clasping or inoperative position by applying pressure with the thumb and forengerat the points denoted at 28 vand .29 on the respective discs 1 vand 8, these tongues may be slightly parted at 3U or in very lightengagement with each other so that the folded paper money or bills may be readily inserted through the mouth M or removed from themoney clip. In other words, when the spring tongues I9 are in substantial engagement throughout the greater portion of their length as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the paper money or bills, as the Vcase may be, are rmly clasped and held in the money clip whereas, when the money clip is in the Eposition as shown in Fig. 6, ready removal or insertion of the paper money or bills is attained.

From the foregoing, it is believed clear that the money clip is most effective in its retention of folded paper money or bills and it being 'understood that one or more such bills or paper lmoney may be clasped or retained by the clip, and that, by the simple application of pressure to the points indicated at 23 vand 29, which are adjacent the bight portion I3 of the spring means, the pressure exerted by the spring tongues I9 on the paper money or bills, as the case may be, is released or relaxed.

The discs or plates 1 and 8 are rigidand may be constructed of metal or any other suitable rigid material such as plastic or the like. The spring means I2 possesses inherent spring-like and resilient characteristics throughout and, 4of course, this includes the integral yspring tongues I9 and is fabricated from a at spring like metallic strip or sheet and is preferably formed by a punching operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A money clip comprising two substantially fiat rigid plates of substantially similar outline, reversely bent spring means including opposed substantially flat ring-like portions and inwardly oiset portions adjacent the bight portion thereof, there being integral elongated opposed clasping tongues as part of the spring means, the spring means being of substantially the same outline and dimensions as the said rigid plates, means securing the plates to opposite sides of the spring means, the tongues being normally in substantial contacting relationship and adapted to clasp folded bills therebetween, and the inwardly offset portions and bight portion of the spring means serving as pivotal means when opposite portions of the plates are brought toward one another by applying pressure thereto to reduce the tension of the spring tongues allowing for removal or insertion of bills in the clip, outwardly extending tabs integral with the inwardly offset portions of the spring means adjacent the bight portion thereof, and similarly formed shoulders positioned adjacent but spaced from said tabs, said tabs being adapted for engagement with opposed interior portions of said plates when the spring means is pivotally operated to relax or reduce the tension on the opposed spring tongues.

2. A money clip comprising two substantially flat rigid plates of substantially similar outline, reversely bent spring means including opposed substantially flat main side portions and inwardly offset portions adjacent the bight portion thereof, there being integral elongated opposed clasping tongues as part of the spring means, the spring means being of substantially the same outline and dimensions as the said rigid plates, means securing the platesA to opposite sides of the spring means, the tongues being normally in substantial contacting relationship and adapted to clasp folded bills therebetween, and the inwardly offset portions and bight portion of the spring means serving as pivotal means when opposite portions of the plates are brought toward one another by applying pressure thereto to reduce the tension of the spring tongues allowing for removal or insertion of bills in the clip, outwardly extending tabs integral with the inwardly offset portions of the spring means adjacent the bight portion thereof, and similarly formed shoulders positioned adjacent but spaced from said tabs, said tabs being adapted for engagement with opposed interior portions of said plates when the spring means is pivotally operated to relax or reduce the tension on the opposed spring tongues.

3. A money clip comprising two substantially at rigid plates of substantially similar outline,

reversely bent spring means including opposed' substantially flat main side portions and inwardly offset portions adjacent the bight portion thereof, and similarly formed oppositely disposed shoulders at the forward ends of said inwardly offset portions, there being integral elongated opposed clasping tongues as part of the spring means, said clasping tongues each being joined at one end to and extending rearwardly from the forward end portion of one of said main side portions to a point adjacent said shoulders, the spring means being of substantially the same outline and dimensions as the said rigid plates, means securing the plates to opposite sides of the spring means, said tongues being normally in substantial contacting relationship and adapted to clasp folded bills therebetween, and-the inwardly offset portions and bight portion of the spring means serving as pivotal means when opposite portions of the plates are brought toward one another by applying pressure thereto to reduce the tension of the spring tongues allowing for removal or insertion of bills in the clip.

WILLIAM H. MEEKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 85,953 Muller Jan. 19, 1869 499,213 Cooper June 13, 1893 921,271 Munger May 11, 1909 1,149,444 Hodgson Aug. 10, 1915 1,185,716 Ripley June 6, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,941 Austria of 1900 370,297 France of 1906 577,499 Germany of 1933 

